Low platelets jeopardising my home birth.

[Ruidh]

Has anyone either successfully raised their platelets in time or still had a home birth with low platelets?

I'm having bloods repeated next week (38 weeks) and am told that if my platelets have not risen above 150 (currently 141) then they cannot recommend a home birth.

I just been out and bought a ton of food that is supposed to help...is there anything else I can do?!

My platelets are currently 141 to, midwife said thats low but nothing major and means just having the injection to help the placenta which I assumed I was having anyway, I'm not having a homebirth though but just wondered why its a massive cause for concern as I was told 141 wasent really that bad?

Hi OP

Can't help on the home birth but also have low platelets and being retested regularly.

I don't think that there is very much you can do to increase platelets yourself, although I read somewhere on the Internet (that source of all medical wisdom) that berries might help, so have been eating loads and my results have been improving a bit. Not sure if that is related though.

Good luck.

I think the main concern is that if I have trouble with bleeding I'm probably half an hour away from the hospital.
I was going to decline the injection for the placenta but might ask if this will change their minds regarding recommending a home birth.

My midwife initially said that 141 wasn't so bad but then after speaking to a consultant she phoned to say that they cannot recommend a homebirth unless above 150.
She then went on to tell me that its my choice and I should do some research...makes me think she thinks the consultant is just covering herself perhaps???

I did some internet searching and found a few foods to try: asparagus, brocolli, oranges.
Also just found a few american sites that recommend alfalfa tablets...will have to find out what on earth these are about!

I have low platelets in pregnancy and have always been told by the hematologist that they don't worry about it unless its under 50. Even then, I was told that the important thing is not the number but your blood's ability to clot which can be fine even with platelet count of 50 and they can measure this separately.

My count at booking in was 143 and was told it was absolutely fine as it is only slightly below 150 level (and I was offered the homebirth option). A 10% drop is normal in pregnant women and so if you are someone who usual has low platelets then having a count of 141 is apparently not an issue.

Having said that NHS have strict protocols in respect of birth and I was told that they would not recommend a homebirth if my platelets dropped below 100 even if there is no actual additional risk of bleeding between 50-100. I would go ahead with my home birth provided my levels stay about 50 (with independent midwives who look at actual risk and not just hospital policy) and I would not necessarily opt for the injection for the placenta unless my platelet count was under 100.

I am 33 weeks pregnant and have the exact same platelet issue. Platelet levels have been at 140 all through the pregnancy. I saw a consultant at 15 weeks who didn't seem at all concerned, advised that a homebirth will be fine at these levels and I wasn't to be referred back to him unless my platelet levels went below 100. I have been having 4 weekly blood tests under midwifery led care to keep a check on them.

My midwife never mentions it and is well aware that I want a homebirth and I feel confident that I will be ok birthing at home with platelet levels that are slightly under the normal levels.

My birth plan does state that I am unsure as to whether to have syntometrine administered for the 3rd stage - I would ideally like a physiological 3rd stage but this will depend on a number of factors on 'the day' ie. platelet levels, blood loss at delivery, midwife's advice/concern etc etc.

I am in your shoes so if I were you I would go for it. Will keep checking this thread in case you are in need of support with going ahead with a homebirth. Doesn't sound like your health care providers are being very flexible and supportive with your choices.

Thanks for your replies. I feel a bit better about going ahead with a home birth...they can't make me leave my house after all! I'm still hoping the tests next week will show an improvement though. My husband is in a bit of a panic though - he is worried about a home birth anyway and this has made it much worse. He was happy to go along up until now as he could see that I am much more relaxed at the prospect of staying at home but this has put a bit of a spanner in the works. I will definitely share what you have said with him and hope he can see that there is perhaps not as much risk as he imagines!

I hope your home birth plans all go well!

Platelets are up! Panic over.

Not sure whether it was the food or just luck but I am back on for a home birth